Good Deals on Wheels

Facing stiff low-fare airline competition, Greyhound has created some discounts of its own.

On its long runs, Greyhound is offering a 50% discount on its $119 maximum one-way fare. In addition, when you buy a regular-fare ticket of $25 or more, one companion can travel to the same destination for $2.

Travel must begin Monday through Thursday for these fares. All travel must be completed by Sept. 30. Tickets at these discount fares must be bought 30 days in advance, and there is a $15 service charge if you cancel.

Greyhound also has other reduced fares between certain cities. In some cases you might be better off using the reduced fares instead of the $2 companion fare.

Here’s one example, provided by Greyhound, of where the $2 companion rate can be used effectively: The regular round-trip fare between Los Angeles and San Francisco is $92.80, so you could take someone with you for $2 more, or $94.80. The reduced, round-trip fare is $63, which comes to $126 for two people.

For details contact your nearest Greyhound terminal.

Car rental companies are also putting in their bids for some of the anticipated brisk domestic travel.

Hertz has launched a program whereby you can get one of its subcompact through full-size cars for nine days at the company’s “affordable weekly” rates for a minimum of five consecutive days (the same special weekly rate applies if the car is kept five, six or seven days). You have to reserve the car at least seven days in advance (just one day in Florida) and keep it at least one Saturday night.

A limited number of cars are available at these rates, and are also subject to holiday/seasonal surcharges as well as blackout periods at some locations. The program applies to nearly 200 airport locations within the United States excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Seattle and New York City. The cars generally have to be returned to the same location to avoid a drop-off charge.

For details contact travel agents or Hertz at (800) 654-3131.

National Car Rental has a similar program under way in which you can get a car for nine days at the price of seven if you rent the car starting on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Again, you have to reserve the car seven days in advance.

For details, contact travel agents or National Car Rental at (800) CAR-RENT.